I have about 150ft of deck railing/posts that I need to have painted. I have read about people using the $10.00 weed sprayers and filling with paint to spray....sounds crazy. Hand brushing this thing will take a ridiculous amount of time.

Just tape and plastic off the house and any surrounding areas. Rent nice sprayer from depot. Done in a few hours with first coat and second coat later that day or the next. As for you just buy a tyvek suit from depot.

We always used an HVLP gun to do the rails and spindles. One person to spray, and a second person when close to the house, with a large flat piece of cardboard to block overspray from getting on things. 2 years building decks professionally, we never masked a house, using that method.

I will be doing my own deck this year, but I'll probably just use a garden sprayer (along with the cardboard mentioned)

We always used an HVLP gun to do the rails and spindles. One person to spray, and a second person when close to the house, with a large flat piece of cardboard to block overspray from getting on things. 2 years building decks professionally, we never masked a house, using that method.

I will be doing my own deck this year, but I'll probably just use a garden sprayer (along with the cardboard mentioned)

Pump up sprayers work well for semi transparent stains. If you are using deckscapes solid color stain, do your rails and spindels first. Use a mini roller, hand mitt and a brush. Place a drop cloth under rail as to not soak the deck. Then roll and back brush the deck and don't paint yourself into a corner.

HVLP is high volume low pressure sprayer. They are a little tricky to use but you will still need to back brush or roll. Spraying is a transfer method of getting the paint or stain to the substrate. Still have to brush it on.
Duration is not good for decks. It will peel and lift off after the winter.

Pump up sprayers work well for semi transparent stains. If you are using deckscapes solid color stain, do your rails and spindels first. Use a mini roller, hand mitt and a brush. Place a drop cloth under rail as to not soak the deck. Then roll and back brush the deck and don't paint yourself into a corner.

HVLP is high volume low pressure sprayer. They are a little tricky to use but you will still need to back brush or roll. Spraying is a transfer method of getting the paint or stain to the substrate. Still have to brush it on.
Duration is not good for decks. It will peel and lift off after the winter.

We sprayed penofin, rarely needed to go over it with a brush (we sprayed the whole deck, 2 coats), only in tight spots.

When I did it for my personal use, with penofin, I roll the surfacing, as it puts it on thicker and 1 coat suffices.

Or HVLP gun had a little electric air pump, worked pretty good. I was running the deck crew in 1994-1995, I'm sure things have progressed a little since I was doing it for a living.

Im using Deckscapes solid color on the decking, Im using Duration on the deck rails/posts. I like the idea of the paint mit, that sounds good. Any idea of a good brand or where I should get one of those at?

Im using Deckscapes solid color on the decking, Im using Duration on the deck rails/posts. I like the idea of the paint mit, that sounds good. Any idea of a good brand or where I should get one of those at?

Home Depot or Sherwin Williams have the paint mitts. They do leak so be sure to get rubber gloves as well. Get a pair, 1 for each hand. Carefull with Duration on flat surfaces, after 1 winter it will fail.

We have tried all kinds of paints and stains and australian timber oil from sevens is by far the most durable product for decks, Imo.
We always pressure wash the deck a week before a dry spell so the water can dry. Then just sweep it and spray the oil on with a garden sprayer. A helper with a piece of cardboard as someone mentioned is a plus.
I dont like using a hvlp or other gun because you are always dragging the hose behind you and it is easy to mess up your fresh work a dirty hose.